Mackie Spike USB Audio Interface with DSP
A complete recording solution from Mackie featuring a 24-bit/96k USB Audio/MIDI interface, great-sounding Mackie preamps, incredibly easy Tracktion recording software.
Overall User Ratings (based on 44 ratings)
Submitted August 23, 2004 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Definitley worth a look!"
I plan on using this for years, and I'm confident that it'll last a long time.
Sound
I've only had it a few weeks, but so far I think it sounds great.
Features
Lots of extra features (like compression while recording vocals) make this a step above the alternatives. I want to respond to a previous reviewer that said you may need to buy a new sound card in addition to the Spike system- but the XD-2 (part of Spike) is an audio interface- that IS a sound card. There's no need to buy another one. Not sure what he was smokin'... Or maybe a sleazy sales guy told him otherwise...?
Quality
The build quality seems very solid. The casing is metal, and I have a feeling that I could throw it against a wall and it'd be fine- but I think I'll hold off on that test...
Value
Good value for what you get.
Manufacturer Support
The only time I talked to Mackie was right before this came out- I called about the ship date of the Spike system. Unfortunatley I got four different answers from four different people about when the damn thing was coming out- I'd appreciate someone saying "I don't know" if they really don't have an answer. But, it was very easy to get in touch with them, with minimal hold time.
The Wow Factor
I guess we've all got our fetishes, but mine doesn't include hardware. Still, this is a funky-looking piece of gear, and the vertical design saves space on my desk.
Musical Style:
rock, alternative
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Submitted February 28, 2006 by a customer from ma.rr.com
"Easy on the ear, Easier on the wallet..."
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I plan to use the Mackie Spike for our recording needs for the forseeable future. It simply does what it's designed to do, processes live sound well and didn't eat a hole in my wallet. I'd give it a 10 but I'm not the kind of person that says anything is perfect...But then again, I can't really think of anything I'd change.
Sound
I use our Mackie Spike 4 times per week to record live performances at our Church. Our recordings include everything from spoken voice to music specials. The sound quality of our recordings is very good to great.
Features
What can I say... It does what I need it to do... very well!
Ease of Use
Having a computer/audio background, I took to the interface like a duck to water. However, several training sessions each were required for our less experienced technicians.
Quality
Our Spike routinely travels with me between home office and church sound booth in a softside computer bag. Needless to say, it's been banged around a bit but is none the worse for wear.
Value
For the solution it has provided and what we paid for it...I'd say it was a pretty good value.
Manufacturer Support
I haven't had to call tech support. The included documentation had enough pictures that even a guy can plug this thing together and make it go. Hint: Register your product...Mackie does contact you periodically with updates!
The Wow Factor
Practical design. Sleek look. Perfect footprint for a crowded sound booth.
Musical Background:
Audio Engineer
Musical Style:
Traditional Christian
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Submitted November 28, 2005 by a customer from chairgrrl.com
"It's fine as long as you own a Mac"
This product should have never been sold to Windows users. I am an expert in computers and use both Macs and Wintel machines for audio and video production. The Spike system has basic problems in Windows that I haven't seen since 1995. Clearly Mackie needs that 96% market share, so maybe they should hire some engineers who are familiar with Windows programming. It works fine on just about any old computer as long as that computer was manufactured by Apple.
Musical Background:
engineer, producer, film maker, musician
Musical Style:
rock, jazz
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Submitted September 18, 2005 by a customer from hotmail.com
"Spike looks good on paper but is a sure path to a migraine"
Nope, not for me. It has everything to satisfy me, except for the small problem of not working. At all. Can't wait for months for Mackie to fix driver issues or this thing to brake down. Need to work too. Going to be replaced while I still can. Firebox is my best bet. I don't wan't to pay for broken gear!
Sound
Too much electronic noise pickup for my taste with TS-connection. On balanced, pretty quiet and fare amount of headroom. Not bad at all. Like the very useful DSP on the box itself.
Features
Pretty good, like very much the Tracktion software that comes with it. Some nice plugins, especially LM-IV drum machine. Drivers? Aarrggghhh!!!! This things been on the market for 6 monts (at time of writing) and they still don't have more than alpha firmware support for 24/96, and that won't (ever?) be full-duplex.
Quality
Looks good and solid, but first unit had something loose inside and sounded like baby toy, exchanged it and the new one (one week) just sitting on my desk has dropped both of those kewl aluminum Mackie logo's and lo/hi-Z switch gets stuck at times. I've pressed it probably 50 times and I estimate another 50 left before it fails. I'm afraid of using the unit for the fear of braking it.
Value
Too much FUNCTIONAL competition in this price range. Good product idea but spoilt with quality control and drivers, also, what's a USB1.1 interface doing in this thing? I MIGHT rethink about this product after they've ironed out the problems. Assume it takes at least another 6 onths.
Manufacturer Support
No personal contact, though mackie's forums seem to be crying for some attention.
The Wow Factor
A lot of looks and potential functionality. As it is, I'd rather use it in a duck hunt as a projectile than a musical production tool. Headache. Would look very stylish as a paperweight.
Musical Background:
Active Musician
Musical Style:
Rock
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Submitted May 10, 2005
"Stay away from the Mackie Spike!!!!!"
I returned it after a nightmare week+. I went to great lengths to get this working. I even swapped out my motherboard to fix its USB/DSP connectivity, then two days later another feature (ASIO drivers) broke. Some features (WDM drivers) never worked at any time. The M-Audio Firewire Solo is a great replacement for the lousy Mackie Spike.
Sound
Sounds fine unless you want to listen to both S/PDIF and Analog inputs at the same time. It won't do that. It also won't do 96k in and out at the same time.
Features
DSP is fine, when it works. If you have a SiS chipset motherboard, good luck getting this thing to work.
Quality
Horrible horrible horrible horrible horrible horrible horrible drivers, especially WDM mode. ASIO works, sometimes.
Value
It doesn't work.
Manufacturer Support
They couldn't help. Tier one tech support just tells you to reinstall the same lousy drivers over and over. Tier two support tells you "I usually support twelve-thousand-dollar mixers" and "we have less trouble with Macs".
The Wow Factor
Good item if it worked.
Musical Background:
Hobbyist
Musical Style:
Rock, blues, guitar music.
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